Weather Announcements

St. Cloud Area School District 742, Sauk Rapids-Rice & Sartell-St. Stephen School Districts

The three major St. Cloud metro area school districts will work with one another again this winter on weather-related emergencies. In a renewed effort to gather accurate weather information, the school districts will continue to rely on the expertise of the National Weather Service and St. Cloud State University meteorologists for weather forecasts, and both city and county officials for information related to road conditions. Professors at the University localize forecasts and advise the school districts on closing decisions.

Minnesota weather is sometimes difficult to predict; it is essential that parents/guardians anticipate and prepare for school closings, delayed openings, and early dismissals. The three metro area public school districts and parochial school systems follow a coordinated plan to better ensure the safety of our children. The National Weather Service and other forecasting agencies issue various winter weather statements, watches, and warnings. We use these statements, coupled with the information provided by St. Cloud State University, to determine if weather conditions may cause a late start, full day cancellation or an early dismissal from school.

Heavy snowfall, ice storms, extreme cold, and strong winds are not the only contributors to an emergency situation. Fog can be equally dangerous. While the sun may be shining in one area, visibility may be reduced to a few feet in another location, creating a potential hazard.

Safe Students/Informed Parents

In any weather emergency, the main objective is to provide protection and a safe environment for students. St. Cloud Area School District 742, Sauk Rapids-Rice and Sartell-

St. Stephen will be using a coordinated, weather-related emergency closing plan again this year. This means that public and parochial schools in all three districts will close (or remain open) according to the same winter emergency schedule. Radio stations and news services will be contacted on behalf of each district, but area residents should recognize that the three districts are working together on these weather related decisions.

Emergency Closing Procedures

The three metro area superintendents will make every effort to announce schools closings or late starts by 10:00 p.m. the night before severe weather and/or as soon as information becomes available.

When a morning emergency closing or a late start is required, every effort will be made to make and communicate the decision by 5:30 a.m.

In the event of an early dismissal or a school closing, all after-school activities, practices, and evening classes, including KIDSTOP, Community Education, Early Childhood Education, Adult Basic Education, and McKinley-ALC classes, will be cancelled.

Radio and TV Announcements

Announcements regarding school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissals relative to St. Cloud Area School District 742, Sauk Rapids-Rice, and Sartell-St. Stephen School Districts will be made on the following radio and television stations:

WJON Radio 1240 AM

WWJO Radio 98.1 FM

KMXK Radio 94.9 FM

KKSR Radio 96.7 FM

KLZZ Radio 103.7 FM

KXSS Radio 1390 AM

KCLD Radio 104.7 FM

KNSI Radio 1450 AM

KZPK Radio 98.9 FM

KCML Radio 99.9 FM

KASM Radio 1150 AM

KDDG Radio 105.5 FM

WVAL Radio 800 AM

WHMH Radio 101.7 FM

KKJM Radio 92.9 FM

KCFB Radio 91.5 FM

KVSC Radio 88.1 FM

WCCO Radio 830 AM

WCCO TV Channel 4

KSTP TV Channel 5

KARE-11 TV Channel 11

KMSP-TV Channel 9

In addition to these radio and television outlets, weather alerts are announced on the St. Cloud Times website at www.sctimes.com. You may also tune into the area’s cable education access, Channel 179, District 742’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/isd742.org, St. Cloud Area Schools@ISD742 on Twitter, or the District 742 website at www.isd742.org for up-to-the-minute closing and/or late start reports.

Winter weather and emergency situations are not predictable, and they may happen at any time. The purpose of the weather-related closing plan is to assist parents/guardians and students to be better prepared to deal with emergency situations and reduce their effects. Parents are encouraged to prepare for emergency closings. Special child care arrangements should be made which could be used in the event of a late start, early release, or a school closing. Ultimately, the parent/guardian should make the final decision whether a child should attend school during severe weather.